Hi Paul !
Know this is an old thread, though this might be too much to post on site, ……..
I too have a Browning Safari, chambered in 270 Win. The rifle came with an old Bushnell Scope Chief with the “Command Post” setup. Rifle shoots great, have gotten a lot of comments/questions when I take it out to the range. Lots of “Likes” from the older crowd, and “what is that” from the younger crowd. My kids have already laid claim to it when the time comes !
(pictures here: http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/PaulyP1698/slideshow/)
Having problems posting pics on this site.
Found mine advertised on a web site, with the seller actually local – how’s that for luck. I too had a heck of a time finding out just when it was made. It took me months to find out. I kept getting conflicting information form people and places. I was collecting pictures of any browning I could find (that the serial number could be identified), trying to bring some justification to the information I was accumulating. My rifle also has the letter “L” proceeding the serial numbers.
Have more pictures if interested.
My serial number.
(pictures here: http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/PaulyP1698/slideshow/)
I finally had a gentlemen email me with information that I believed to be correct.
Below is what he had sent me:
*********************************************************************************
From:
//www.BrowningCollector.com
Your Safari Grade was actually made in late 1961. Browning had not yet went to the year code with the Safari i.e. until sometime between your number L 11420 and serial number 2 L 11856 (.308 small ring). Serial number L 11557 is the last serial number I show for 1961 made Safari Grades (so far).
Side note: The Medallion and Olympian Grades all had the year code prefix in 1961 as 1 X and you couldn't tell the model you had, Medallion or Olympian, by the serial number because both had X as the prefix. Browning/FN changed that in 1962. Hope this helps.
If you go to the website below you will find pix and a story about serial #1. The first Browning Safari Grade Bolt Action Rifle made in 1959. Later this year there will some more pix and story about two other rifles we can't talk about yet, but will soon.
//www.BrowningCollector.com
My dad purchased his first Safari Grade in 1964 and hunted with it in 6-7 States with it. We have a lot of Belgium Browning Rifles, but that .270 means the most to me. The A70L you reference... The best explanation I've come with is that the A stands for Arnold in Missouri where Browning repair facility is. I have 50+ pages of Browning serial numbers I've kept track of over the years and have never seen a pre 1966 rifle with the extra letter in the serial number until after 1966 which is when Browning moved from Washington St. in St. Louis to Arnold. Not sure if th A serial numbers are correct or parts guns.
*********************************************************************************
The Browning is what got me into the mauser action made rifles. I have picked up a few more - ya, even the one with the firing pin spring problem I posted !!!
I have 2 of the JC Higgins FN actioned in 30.06, an H & R Ultra Bolt Action FN actioned in 300 Win Mag, of course the 270 Browning Safari, and I picked up a Parker Hale 1200 in 243 that I like. The Parker was what brought me to the site.
I’m always looking for another that I can sneak past the little woman without incurring too much pain. Still looking to pick up 2 more of the JC Higgins models. It would give me 2 more winter projects, and I would end up with one each for the kids.
I have a few Remington’s in the case. I like an old model 722 in 257 Roberts I picked up not too long ago. Gave a model 700 in stainless & synthetic to the daughter, a 30.06 M-760 to the one son, and an old 257 Roberts M-760 to the other son.
Not sure which of the rifles I will use this upcoming Pa. deer season, but it will sure be one of the older ones. I know the kids like the synthetic stocked stainless gear, but the wood and blue are to my liking. I will give credit to the reduced weight of the new rifles. Lugging the older ones does take task with ones shoulder !
Anyhow, just thought I would put my 2 cents in.
Have a Good One !
– Don’t do anything dumb !
Pauly P.
Know this is an old thread, though this might be too much to post on site, ……..
I too have a Browning Safari, chambered in 270 Win. The rifle came with an old Bushnell Scope Chief with the “Command Post” setup. Rifle shoots great, have gotten a lot of comments/questions when I take it out to the range. Lots of “Likes” from the older crowd, and “what is that” from the younger crowd. My kids have already laid claim to it when the time comes !
(pictures here: http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/PaulyP1698/slideshow/)
Having problems posting pics on this site.
Found mine advertised on a web site, with the seller actually local – how’s that for luck. I too had a heck of a time finding out just when it was made. It took me months to find out. I kept getting conflicting information form people and places. I was collecting pictures of any browning I could find (that the serial number could be identified), trying to bring some justification to the information I was accumulating. My rifle also has the letter “L” proceeding the serial numbers.
Have more pictures if interested.
My serial number.
(pictures here: http://s1335.photobucket.com/user/PaulyP1698/slideshow/)
I finally had a gentlemen email me with information that I believed to be correct.
Below is what he had sent me:
*********************************************************************************
From:
//www.BrowningCollector.com
Your Safari Grade was actually made in late 1961. Browning had not yet went to the year code with the Safari i.e. until sometime between your number L 11420 and serial number 2 L 11856 (.308 small ring). Serial number L 11557 is the last serial number I show for 1961 made Safari Grades (so far).
Side note: The Medallion and Olympian Grades all had the year code prefix in 1961 as 1 X and you couldn't tell the model you had, Medallion or Olympian, by the serial number because both had X as the prefix. Browning/FN changed that in 1962. Hope this helps.
If you go to the website below you will find pix and a story about serial #1. The first Browning Safari Grade Bolt Action Rifle made in 1959. Later this year there will some more pix and story about two other rifles we can't talk about yet, but will soon.
//www.BrowningCollector.com
My dad purchased his first Safari Grade in 1964 and hunted with it in 6-7 States with it. We have a lot of Belgium Browning Rifles, but that .270 means the most to me. The A70L you reference... The best explanation I've come with is that the A stands for Arnold in Missouri where Browning repair facility is. I have 50+ pages of Browning serial numbers I've kept track of over the years and have never seen a pre 1966 rifle with the extra letter in the serial number until after 1966 which is when Browning moved from Washington St. in St. Louis to Arnold. Not sure if th A serial numbers are correct or parts guns.
*********************************************************************************
The Browning is what got me into the mauser action made rifles. I have picked up a few more - ya, even the one with the firing pin spring problem I posted !!!
I have 2 of the JC Higgins FN actioned in 30.06, an H & R Ultra Bolt Action FN actioned in 300 Win Mag, of course the 270 Browning Safari, and I picked up a Parker Hale 1200 in 243 that I like. The Parker was what brought me to the site.
I’m always looking for another that I can sneak past the little woman without incurring too much pain. Still looking to pick up 2 more of the JC Higgins models. It would give me 2 more winter projects, and I would end up with one each for the kids.
I have a few Remington’s in the case. I like an old model 722 in 257 Roberts I picked up not too long ago. Gave a model 700 in stainless & synthetic to the daughter, a 30.06 M-760 to the one son, and an old 257 Roberts M-760 to the other son.
Not sure which of the rifles I will use this upcoming Pa. deer season, but it will sure be one of the older ones. I know the kids like the synthetic stocked stainless gear, but the wood and blue are to my liking. I will give credit to the reduced weight of the new rifles. Lugging the older ones does take task with ones shoulder !
Anyhow, just thought I would put my 2 cents in.
Have a Good One !
– Don’t do anything dumb !
Pauly P.